Child Sexual Exploitation

What is Child Sexual Exploitation?

Child Sexual Exploitation is a major Child Protection issue across the UK. Child Sexual Exploitation is when children and young people receive something - food, accommodation, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, affection, gifts, or money etc - as an encouragement to perform, or as a result of performing (and/or others performing on them) direct sexual activities. Child Sexual Exploitation can also occur and progress through the use of the internet or on mobile phones. In all cases, those exploiting the child or young person have power over them because of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or resources.

For victims, the effect and pain of their ordeal and fear that they will not be believed or may be at risk if they tell someone, means they are often too scared to come forward and report or tell what is happening.

Prevalence of Child Sexual Exploitation…

Child Sexual Exploitation is often a hidden issue, and therefore it is difficult to know the true figure of victims. However, it has been estimated that Barnardo’s worked with 1,940 children and young people last year alone, who have been sexually exploited.

The true number of children who are victims of Sexual Exploitation is likely to be much higher due to the reluctance of victims to come forward and disclose.

Warning Signs and Risk Factors

WARNING SIGNS:

RISK FACTORS:

Going missing for periods of time or regularly returning home late

Skipping school or being disruptive in class

Appearing with unexplained gifts or possessions that cannot be accounted for